Console Corner: Zombi coming to a console near U

Damien Lucas

Nintendo Wii exclusive hit ZombiU has ditched the ‘U’ and been reborn as Zombi so it can be released on next gen.

Now gamers on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC can enjoy the first-person survival horror game when it is released on August 18.

Developed by Ubisoft, Zombi will see the player assume the roles of various humans during the game, as they attempt to survive a zombie apocalypse in London.

Described as a “wonderfully frightening experience thick with tension, death and a brilliantly unforgiving atmosphere” the game’s release comes as a welcome addition to the next gen platforms.

It will come complete with a few upgrades and changes, most notably the ditching of the two-player mode due to its original reliance on the special Wii U Gamepad to drop zombies in the path of a second player on the main screen.

Changes were necessary as since Zombi can’t take advantage of the Wii U’s second screen – which displayed the mini-map, radar and gear – these aspects have been moved to the main screen.

“It disappears when not required, giving the game a very lonely feeling.”

However, Zombi will feature a slightly expanded field of view and two new melee weapons, a longer-reaching shovel and a bat with nails sticking out of it.

The flashlight gets an upgrade, too, with a new option to turn on a high-powered beam which obviously increases the chance that the undead will spot you and come running, and it drains the battery more quickly. The flashlight needs 30 seconds to recharge in Zombi. That’s 30 long seconds of terrifying, creeping darkness.

The backpack, which used to be displayed on Wii U’s second screen, now pops up on the main screen but the game still doesn’t pause, leaving players vulnerable to an ambush just like the original.